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Apple Staffing Up for iPhone 5 Pre-orders Beginning on Morning of Friday, September 14?

Tuesday September 11, 2012 10:40 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Apple's policies for pre-orders of its popular iOS devices have varied over the years, with the iPhone 4S being scheduled for a 12:01 AM Pacific Time launch on the Friday following the media event, although Apple's pre-orders didn't actually begin until nearly 45 minutes after the appointed time.

Last month, iMore reported that pre-orders were scheduled to begin on the same day as the media event, with availability set for nine days later. An exact timeframe for the pre-order launch was not given in the report, but a same-day window likely pointed toward pre-orders going live soon after the event as the Apple online store comes back online.

MacRumors is now hearing that pre-orders may not begin tomorrow following the media event and that they may instead start on Friday morning in a scenario similar to last year's debut. We're hearing that certain portions of Apple's online sales support team are significantly increasing their staffing levels beginning at 6:00 AM Eastern on Friday, with a major surge for the initial shift beginning at that time and a sustained level of high staffing for at least the remainder of the day.

It is unclear whether pre-orders would begin immediately at the 6:00 AM shift start or some time shortly afterward, but these staffing levels suggest that customers may have to wait until the end of this week to pre-order their new iPhones for delivery a week later.

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Patriot24
83 months ago
They are doubling-down on staffing.
Rating: 25 Votes
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gmanist1000
83 months ago
As long as their servers hold up enough for me to order, it doesn't matter when they do it :)
Rating: 17 Votes
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applesith
83 months ago
If it makes it any easier, I'll pre-order right now!
Rating: 10 Votes
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jj47
83 months ago
This is bad news.

Hopefully they do open up orders right after the keynote.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Patriot24
83 months ago


Apple likes crowds, headlines & control.

They're going to milk this for all its worth.


People always say the above as if it is a bad thing. If you were running a company and launching new products, you would probably want as much fanfare and buzz as possible to drive sales.

Apple is in business to make money. So far their launch strategies have worked out pretty well for them, I'd say.
Rating: 8 Votes
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D.T.
83 months ago

Friday might be an expensive morning :apple:


Hahaha, yeah, that buying momentum can sneak up on you:

"OK, iPhone 5, let's see in black, same data plan ... oh what the heck, new MBP retina, 27" Thunderbolt display ..." :D
Rating: 6 Votes
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Mums
83 months ago
I hope so!
Rating: 5 Votes
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iapplelove
83 months ago
Friday might be an expensive morning :apple:
Rating: 5 Votes
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Joe-Diver
83 months ago
Ahh, the daily "staffing up" and "vacation block" rumor story.....
Rating: 5 Votes
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Dobiewonkanobie
83 months ago
First of all I'm slightly amazed/surprised at the people mentioning friday is payday so they will be able to order, etc etc.

Really? Do you not have a savings account? Do you live check-to-check and you're spending money on a phone?

And you wonder where all these debt problems come from...

Second, and this is no surprise, but the complete lack of patience displayed. People acting like they can't wait an hour, day, or week longer to get this thing, especially when they most likely already have an iphone. It's not christmas morning and you're not 5 anymore.

Personally I will be waiting until the first reviews come out, you know, within the week that they're made available. I'd rather buy knowing its kinks than go through some antennagate fiasco after purchasing.
Rating: 4 Votes

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